Protective device for ball-players.



E. BOURBON. PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR BALL PLAYERS. APPLICATION FILED FEB.I8, 1914.

L16 8@?@ Patentd Apr. 20, 1915.

EIIIE BOURBON, OF WEST VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR BALL-PLAYERS.

Application filed February 18,

and effective means which is adapted to be worn on those parts of thebody which are most liable to be injured in the course of a ball game orthe like, thereby providing a.

- means whereby players may protect themselves efiectively against blowswhich would prove injurious were they not so protected, such as a blowfrom a lacrosse bat, hockey stick, contact with another player, and thelike.

A further object is to devise a protective means which is adapted forall such games, that is, for those games in which there are a number ofparts of the body liable to be injured, or for those games in whichthere are only certain particular parts requlring protection, my devicebeing adapted to be worn as a complete combination of separate membersto protect all the parts, or each member may be used, with equalfacility, 1ndependently of the others where only one. particular part ofthe body requires protection.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, n whicl1 Figure 1 is a view illustrating my com-. pleteprotective device. Fig. is a side new of the head protectpr, in section.

Similar figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout.

1 represents the head protector, which is formed of felt or other lightmaterial, and which is adapted to fit the head of the player. On thecrown of this felt shape 1 and extending well down around the head issecured a piece of light metal, 2, such as aluminum, this metal piecebeing adapted to conform to the shape of the felt member 1, so that whenassembled, the head protector may be worn in the same way as an ordinarycap, the metal piece 2 effectively protecting the vulnerable parts ofthe skull.

3 is an elastic band by means of which the head protector is detachablyconnected to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2d, 1215. 1914;. Serial No. 819,477.

the shoulder straps, hereinafter mentioned, or to the garment of theplayer.

4 are the shoulder protectors, consisting of a felt base 5 reinforced onthe upper side thereof by aluminum plates 6, as shown.

fectively, and the pliable nature of the material of which they areconstructed allows them to conform to the required shape.

7 and 8 are shoulder straps by means of which the protectors are carriedin place, these straps being adapted to detachably connect theprotectors 4 together.

9 and 10 are straps secured to the protectors 4, on the front and backedges re spectively, these straps being adapted to detachably connectthe shoulder protectors 4 to the stomach protector, hereinaftermentioned, or to the belt of the player.

11 is the protector for the upper part of that arm which the player usesmost in warding ofi blows, this protector consisting of a felt base 12reinforced on its upper side by a continuous member of aluminum, 13,which member extends from the shoulder to the elbow and is of curvedsection to fit snugly around the exposed surface of the arm. The feltbase 12 is connected to the felt base 5 in such a manner as to allowperfect freedom of movement between the protector 4 and the protector11, such as shown at 4.

15 are straps which pass under the arm to be secured in buckles 16 forthe purpose of adjusting the protector 11 in place.

Although I have shown the protector 11 as consisting of a felt basereinforced by a continuous plate of curved section, I may preferablyform it in the manner shown in 'These protectors 4 extend from the baseof the neck to cover the entire shoulder cfthe protector 23, that is,consisting of a felt base 24: reinforced by the number of separate metalstrips 25 disposed closely together.

17 is the forearm and wrist protector, consisting of a felt base 18reinforced by aluminum plates 19" and adapted to be strapped around theexposed surface of the forearm and wrist by means of the straps 20 andbuckles 21. This protector 17 is adapted to be detachably connectedtothe protector 11 by means of suitable straps 22.

26 is the stomach protector, consisting of a felt base, 27 reinforced byaluminum plates, 28, and adapted to be held in place, covering thestomach, by means of the belt 29, which is passed around the body to betightened thereon, and the straps 9 and 10, which engage in suitablebuckles 30 provided on the protector 26.

31 are the knee protectors, consisting of a felt base, 32, reinforced byaluminum plates, 33, these knee protectors forming the upper portion ofthe shin protectors 34:, to which they are suitably connected to allowperfect freedom of movement, as shown at 35. The shin protectors, 34,consist of a felt base, 36, reinforced by a continuous aluminum member,37, which is arched to conform to the exposed surface of the front partof the leg and which extends from the knee downwardly to protect theentire shin bone. These protectors, 34, are secured in the same manneras the other protective members, namely, by means of the straps 38 andbuckles, 39, the felt pad, 40, lying against the calf of the leg andproviding for greater comfort in the wear.

41 are elastic straps for detachably connecting the protectors, 34, tothe stomach protector 26. The aluminum plates are perforated as shown,42, for the sake of lightness, and are secured to the felt base bystitching or other equivalent means.

The manner in which my device is used will be clearly seen on referencebeing made to the drawing.

It will be seen, therefore, that I have devised a simple means wherebyball players and others may effectively protect those parts of the bodywhich are most liable to be injured in the course of a game and a meanswhich is adapted to all such either those in which all the vulnerableparts require protection, or those in which certain particular partsonly are liable to injury.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A protective device of the class degames,

scribed, comprising a normally flat base of pliable fabric, a normallyflat flexible metallic plate secured on the outer surface of the saidbase, and buckling straps for securing the said base over any exposedvulnerable part of the body, the said base and said plate being adaptedto conform temporarily to the contour of the part which it protects bythe tightening of the said buckling straps, as and for the purposespecified.

2. A protective device of the class described, comprising a plurality ofnormally fla t bases of pliable fabric, normally flat flexible metallicplates secured on the outer surfaces of the said bases, buckling strapsfor securing the said bases over any exposed vulnerable part of thebody, each of the said bases and said plates being capable of conformingtemporarily to the contour of that part of the body which it protects asthe said buckling straps are tightened, and means for detachablyconnecting the said bases to each other, as and for the purposespecified.

3. In a protective device of the class described, the combination with aplurality of normally flat bases of pliable fabric detachably connectedtogether and a plurality of normally flat flexible metallic platessecured thereto on the outer surface thereof, of a base of pliablefabric adapted to conform to the shape of the crown of the head, and aflexible metallic plate conforming to the shape of said base and securedon the outer surface thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

Dated at Vancouver, 13. (1., this 28th day of January, A. D. 1914.

ELIE BOURDON. Witnesses:

JAMEs TAYLOR, W. H. GALLAGHER.

